Pitt Set For World Supers Return

By Gordon Ritchie | 12/21/2009 6:45 AM

Former two-time World Supersport Champion and World Superbike race winner Andrew Pitt will be back in the World Superbike Series in 2010, riding a BMW S1000RR for the Retiwagen BMW team.Pitt will team with German Roland Resch on the two-rider squad.Pitt looked set to ride in the British Superbike Series, but when the chance to join the World Superbike Championship came along, the Australian jumped at it."There was a ride with the TAS Suzuki team, but it took a long time to get done," Pitt said. "I had that set in my head that what I was going to be doing and have a good crack at it. It was a good deal, but it seemed to be dragging on and on and on, and nothing was finally to sign. Then this other thing came along and it was a blessing in disguise. I think this is going to be a good thing. It looks proper and it is supported by BMW themselves, by the parent company. Johan Stigefelt [of the former Stiggy Honda team] has been brought in to run things as a team manager, Pete Goddard is there, and Kor Veldman, JT's [James Toseland's] old chief mechanic at Ten Kate. When they told me the level of the technical staff and so on, I said ‘let's do it, let's get it done today!' "

Pitt has been impressed by the S1000RR from afar, and is convinced his machine will be up to the job."You could see by the end of the year Troy [Corser] was starting to get the BMW to the front and it was looking good," Pitt said. "With the guys we have involved, I think we can do a good job. Most importantly, BMW want to be competitive, want to win, be at the front, because they have their roadbike out now and they are going to put a big effort in. I never wanted to leave Superbike when I was riding for Yamaha. I went back to the Supersport bike to get back on a Superbike again, but we all know that didn't happen for whatever reason. I am glad I am back on the Superbike - that's what I enjoy riding and I think I ride a Superbike better than a Supersport bike."Pitt is in Australian now, and will spend some more time there in the next couple of months."I moved into a new place, new house, and I have been going cycling every morning with the local cycle group," he said. "There are a lot of good cyclists and tri-athletes around so I can do a lot of good training. Swimming at the beach, swimming in my pool and watching a bit of cricket on TV. Right now my dad and I are watching the final session of the cricket and having a beer. It's unreal to be home for a while, fantastic."The 2001 and 2008 World Supersport Champion gets his first chance of a proper test on the 2010 bike at the end of January, close to home, and alongside his new teammate Resch."We will be doing a lot of testing in Australia; they don't want to be messed about by weather in Europe," Pitt said. "At the end of January we will be at Eastern Creek and then we will do two tests at Phillip Island. Everyone is coming out here...”